Black Watch tour heading to Mechanics Hall

Friday

Jan 25, 2013 at 6:00 AMJan 26, 2013 at 1:35 PM

By Richard Duckett TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

The Pipes, Drums, Highland Dancers of The Black Watch 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiments of Scotland are on an extensive North American tour with the Band of the Scots Guards that includes a visit to Mechanics Hall for a performance at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

A year ago The Black Watch, which is based in Inverness, Scotland, had a somewhat different assignment.

Afghanistan. There they were performing their first and foremost role as soldiers in the British Army, deployed in the Nad-e-Ali district of Helmand Province.

“We’re all very much front-line infantry soldiers. That’s our day job,” said Major Andrew Halliday of the Black Watch.

The Black Watch was founded in 1739 and got its name because of the dark color of the tartan its members wore, and its job of “watching” (keeping peace and order) in the Highlands of Scotland.

The battalion has a long and distinguished military history. Halliday, who is originally from South Africa, was inspired to join them in part because his maternal grandfather’s South African regiment had fought alongside the Black Watch in Italy at Monte Cassino in 1943.

Hand in hand with that, the bagpipes have been an integral part of the regiment through war and peace. Bagpipes can soothe the soul (take “Amazing Grace,” which will be played Tuesday) and inspire.

The Black Watch has been a popular attraction during its musical tours of duty stateside, and drew a capacity house at Mechanics Hall in 2006. They are joined on this tour by the Band of the Scots Guards, which has a formidable history and tradition of its own.

Standing ovations are pretty much a tradition at the conclusion of performances in the United States, but the reaction of audiences here had been a little bit of a surprise to Halliday, who is just over two weeks into his first North American tour leading the Black Watch pipers, drummers and dancers.

“We’re just finding our feet here. It is fantastic, though,” Halliday said during a telephone interview at a stop in from Gettysburg, Pa., a place with its own historic resonance.

“I think if we’re all honest with each other, we hadn’t quite expected the reception and the emotion people have shown. It’s been very humbling.”

The tour will last another two-and-a-half months and take in 55 appearances. Among Halliday’s duties commanding the pipers, drummers and dancers is keeping them on their toes. That includes 90 minutes of “PT” — physical training — every day.

“I keep them to speed as soldiers, and look after their training and welfare,” Halliday said. As for music, “I leave music up to the pipe major and drum major,” Halliday said.

Asked if he has a musical background, Halliday replied, “No. No, sadly. I’m very much a soldier. I have the privilege of presiding over people who are soldiers and musicians. We are trained to deploy anywhere an infantry fighting force is needed. It’s always a challenge, but having said that although a lot of my pipers and drummers are still very young they’ve already deployed two or three times. It brings a certain maturity and worldliness.”

While he refers to himself as a soldier, Halliday is actually bit of a Renaissance man. Besides leading the pipes and drums of the Black Watch, he has a degree in English literature from Oxford University.

In 2009 the Black Watch was deployed in an air assault role based at Kandahar. Halliday was awarded a mention in Despatches, the oldest form of recognition for gallantry in the British forces, for his actions in combat before he sustained battlefield wounds.

The Black Watch returned to Afghanistan toward the end of 2011, spent Christmas there, and got back to Inverness about six months ago. Home in Scotland, the pipes and drums participated in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, where thousands of people walk up a hill to Edinburgh Castle almost every evening in August to watch military bands and ensembles perform. Another “deployment” in the late summer/autumn was to Balmoral Castle in Scotland when Queen Elizabeth II was in residence

Do people in Great Britain still respond to pageantry and patriotism?

“Absolutely. You only have to reflect on last year,” Halliday said referring to the vast celebrations of Queen Elizabeth’s 60 years as monarch. “People came out in the millions.”

It can translate. Tuesday’s performance, presented by Music Worcester Inc., will have “something for everyone,” Halliday said, including anthems, marches, jigs, reels and haunting airs. “I challenge people not to be a little bit emotional,” Halliday said.

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In conjunction with the concert, which is sponsored by TD Bank (media sponsor is Worcester Telegram & Gazette), there will be several activities involving local students. At the time of writing, these were to include a color guard procession and flag presentation before the performance by members of the South High Community School marching band. Band members and ROTC students will also be in attendance as guests, as will members of the Worcester Fire Department. Earlier in the day at South High, members of the Fire Department will give a presentation on topics including careers and fire safety. For more information, call Music Worcester, (508) 754-3231.